Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 655

COIL PUMP PERFORMANCE UNDER VARIABLE

OPERATING CONDITIONS

Sadek Z. Kassab, Ahmed A. Abdel Naby, and El Sayed I. Abdel Basier

Mechanical Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University
Alexandria, 21544, Egypt
E-mail: szkassab@yahoo.com, hydrocareeg@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT

Coil pump is considered one of non-conventional water pumping devices which use
non-conventional energy sources. It is a self supporting system for pumping water.

The performance of coil pump under different operating parameters is the main
objective concerned of present study. The parameters considered in the present study
are submerged ratios, rotational speed and number of coils of the wrapped hose.

The experimental results showed significant effects on the pump performance due to
the variation in submerged ratio Sr and the pump rotational speed as well. The
presence of air with water for submerged ratios 0 Sr 100% gives the coil pump its
pumping action. Increasing the submerged ratio increases the pump flow rate until it
reaches its maximum depending on the pump rotational speed, then decreases to zero
when the pump is fully immersed. Submerged ratio has a minor effect on the pump
maximum static head, it is nearly constant but decreases drastically to zero when the
pump submerged ratio reaches 100%. Increasing the pump rotational speed increases
water flow rate until it reaches its maximum depending on the working submerged
ratio, then the discharge decreases by increasing the rotational speed. Meanwhile slight
changes are obtained for the pump static head when the pump rotational speed
changes. The number of pump coils is also one of most effective parameters on the
coil pump performance. Increasing number of coils increases the pump head while
pump discharge is nearly constant.

Good agreement is obtained between the present experimental results and theoretical
results developed by other investigators.

INTRODUCTION

Development of suitable pumping devices to meet the growing demand for water
pumping has been a great challenge for those involved in research and development
work in that discipline. The variables governing the successful operation of a water
pump are numerous and they become particularly difficult to be controlled in the third
656 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

world developing countries. Developing and testing number of non-conventional

pumping devices is one of the greatest importance research works. The key factors are
taken into consideration when developing these new systems which use the non-
conventional energy sources such as flexibility of the system, minimum maintenance,
affordability and use of local raw materials.

A very old idea for a simple pump was invented by Archimedes (287 BC-212 BC) had
a name "Archimedes Snail Pump". It was used for irrigation and usually powered by
human, horses, or mules. A tube was wrapped around a pole, which was then rotated
and run with axis of rotation inclined. A similar pump which applied the same
principles of operation was invented by Belcher (1972), "The hydrostatic pump", as it
was known at that time. In 1979 Morgan invented a pump under the title "A New
Water Pump: Spiral Tube". In 1980 "The Stream-powered Manometric Pump"
indicated by Stukey and Wilson was tested [1].

Investigations for coil pump types and performance are limited in literature.
Theoretical and experimental studies for this pump have been done recently

Dibwe [2] constructed his pump as two wooden bearings held the steel water pipe
shaft on which the coil was mounted. The pump was hand driven by a crank handle
with no gearing. The pump was 1-6 coils. The pump had a better performance with
about 5 coils. Using the pump with more than 50% immersion reduced maximum
head. Maximum lift obtained was about 6 meters at 25% immersion.

Mortimer and Annabel [3] tested theoretically and experimentally a stream powered
pump. It consists of a 25 mm diameter flexible pipe wrapped around inside a drum
forming 26 coils. This pump was tested in a local stream and it lifted water to a height
of 9.5 m at a rate of 4 lit/min. when the stream velocity was 0.8 m/s.

Sling pump was built by "Rife Hydraulic Engine Mfg. Co." [4]. A helical intake coil
was wrapped around the inside surface of a cone. Sling Pumps can raise water over 80
feet high or move it a mile horizontally, from a stream moving at just 1.5 ft/sec. The
unit weighs about 44 lbs and uses a 1/2 inch hose.

Another model of the coil pump was undertaken by NERD Center [5]. This pump was
under the name of "Barrel pump- rotating coil pump". A flexible hose of
predetermined diameter was wound around a water tight barrel. The details of the
pump were as follows: Hose diameter = 2.25 in., number of coils = 12, drum diameter
= 25 in. and number of water inlets = 1. Stream velocity of 2 to 3 ft/sec would be
sufficient to operate the pump and the discharge would vary according to the size of
the hose, rotational speed of drum and the delivery head.

Sustainable Technology for Watering Livestock [6] presented a project of a simple

water pumping device under the name "Barrel Pump" to provide a low maintenance,
simple, elegant solution which confers a sense of pride of ownership in the farmer.
This pump extracted water from a stream and transported it to storage tank near the
 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 657

watering trough. It was recommended that the pump only be implemented in situations
where it had to move water to 80% of its theoretical capacity. The pump should be
capable of functioning water in streams as slow as 0.25 m/s with a depth as shallow as
15 cm. However the typical stream for this pump would be 1.5 m/s current velocity
and depths greater than 1 meter. The pump provided a sustained output of 6.8 lit/min.

Design of a coil pump and determining its performance under various parameters is
the major target of present study. The following parameters will be considered to
obtain a clear picture for coil pump performance:
Effects of the pump rotational speed.
Effects of the submerged ratio.
Effects of changing the number of coils.

In addition a comparative study will be conducted between the obtained experimental

results and theoretical results obtained by other investigators.

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND PROCEDURE

The experimental setup used in the present study is schematically shown in Figure 1. It
is designed and constructed to study the performance of the coil pump at different
operating conditions.

It consists of a flexible hose (1), of inner diameter 19 mm (3/4 inch) wrapped around a
P.V.C cylindrical drum (2), of 1 m total length and outer diameter 20.4 cm (8 inch).

The drum is partially submerged into a water tank (3), of dimensions 2 m length, 1.25
m width and 1.25 m height. The submerged ratio of the drum into the water is varied
from 15% to 100% of the outer diameter of the flexible hose coil which is wrapped
around the drum. The submerged ratio is controlled to be constant by the float control
valve (4). One end of the wound flexible hose is open and come in contact with water
when rotating forming the pump inlet. The other end of the hose is connected to a steel
hollow pipe (5), of 2.5 m total length, 2 inches diameter. This pipe is the axis of the
rotating drum and the delivery pipe as well. The outlet of the coil (water and air)
passes through non return valve (6), and 2 inch Tee connector (7) to the rotating
central hollow pipe. The hollow pipe is divided into four sections, the first section is
connected to the pump drive of a geared A.C. motor (8), of 0.37 kW, 1360 rpm and the
reduction ratio of the gearbox which is flanged with the motor is 33. The rotational
speed of the motor is regulated through a variable frequency inverter (9) in order to
study the effect of varying the rotational speed on the pump performance. The power
is transmitted from the geared motor to the pump through the V-belt (10) using two
pulleys; one of them on the pump shaft (11) and the other is on the geared motor shaft
(12). The second section of the hollow pipe is joined with the first section by quick
coupling (13), of 2 inches diameter.
658 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 659

The coil on the drum is bounded by two screens; one of them is a steel fixed screen
(14), of outer diameter 80 cm and the other is a movable PVC screen (15), of the same
diameter and it is easy to slide on the drum to allow studying the effect of increasing
and decreasing the number of coils of the flexible hose on the drum and the drum
length of winding. The third section is joined with the second section by a non return
valve (16), of 2 inches diameter and with the fourth section by the 2 inches Tee
connector. The fourth section of the hollow pipe is got through a designed rotary joint
(17). In order to obtain the pump performance under different operating conditions.
The stationary part of the rotary joint is connected to a vertical flexible delivery pipe
(28), of 19 mm (3/4 inch) inner diameter and its length is varied according to the test
condition. The pump discharge is collected in tank (29) then in the measuring and
calibrated glass collecting tank (30). The central hollow pipe is supported by two
symmetrical designed bearing and packing housing supports (19) and (20). The
maximum static head of the pump is measured at the pump steady state directly from
the scale (32) which has the same reading of the calibrated pressure gauge (21).

Detailed explanation of other parts of the coil pump system (see Figure 1) including
their construction, purpose and function is given by Abdel Basier [8].
Through out the experimental work the followings are performed:
1. At first, the tank (3) is filled with water up to a certain level depends on the required
submerged ratio; this water level is controlled by the float control valve (4).
2. Adjusting the rotating speed required using the frequency inverter (9) to study the
effect of rotational speed on the coil pump performance.
3. The vertical delivery pipe (28) has different heights from the pump centerline to
allow calculating the pump flow rate at different heads.
4. The pump discharge is collected in tank (29) then in the measuring and calibrated
glass collecting tank (30).
5. Collecting a certain volume in the measuring tank (30) in a certain time gives the
pump flow rate at a certain rotational speed.
6. Change number of coils for one layer for certain pipe hose diameter and certain
drum diameter to obtain the effect of number of coils.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

1. Effect of Variation of Submerged Ratio, (Sr)

The range of submerged ratios is divided into two groups in the present study. The first
group is ranging from 15% to 100%. More details are required to obtain a clear
performance, so the second group is from 85% to 100% is performed to identify the
submerged ratio effects on the pump performance.
660 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

1.1. Effect of Submerged Ratio, (Sr), in the Range from 15% to 100%:

The effect of variation of the pump speed on the performance of the coil pump at
various submerged ratio, Sr, is presented in Figure 2. These results are for one layer, for
drum diameter, Dd = 8 in, tube diameter, dp = 3/4 in and number of coils, n = 29.5 coils.
For a certain submerged ratio, as the rotational speed, N, increases the flow rate, Q,
nearly linearly increases, except the case of Sr = 100% there is no flow (Q = 0) for all
values of N. Further, for certain rotational speed, N, Figures 2, 3 show that as the
submerged ratio, Sr, increases from 15% up to 85%, the water discharge increases.
Meanwhile, for Sr = 100% there is no flow Q = 0. This behavior can be explained as
follows: For this type of pump the pumping action is obtained due to the presence of air
with water within the coiled tube. This explains why there is no pumping action when
the submerged ratio is zero, Sr = 0, (not shown in Figures) as well as when Sr = 100%.
In the first case, Sr = 0, there is no water, and the coil tube is completely filled with air.
While in the second case Sr = 100% the coil tube is completely filled with water. The
presence of air with water for submerged ratio 0 Sr 100% gives the coil pump its
pumping action while it operates. As the pump is partially immersed, air inters and is
blocked between two successive water amounts in the pump coils. When coil pump
rotates air pressure increases due to water column, the air act like compression spring
creating the pumping action. The compressibility effect as well as the low specific
gravity of air with respect to water play dominant effects on the coil pump operation.

Figure 4 shows the variation of the maximum water static head for different rotational
speed due to changing the submerged ratio at steady state operation of the pump.
When pump is running at a certain rotational speed until the static head reaches to its
maximum value and that occurs when a fully developed water column is formed in the
transparent vertical flexible delivery pipe after air escaping from the delivery pipe and
a reverse flow occurs through the pump inlet bore. Significantly, static head changes
slightly by changing rotational speed.

Figure 5 shows that, the static head increases as increasing the submerged ratio up to
15%, while from 15% to 75% it is nearly constant then decreases drastically to zero
when submerged ratio reaches 100%.

After presenting the variation of the pump flow rate and head with the pump speed, the
performance curves for the pump can be constructed. Figure 6 shows the performance
curves (Head, H verses Flow rate, Q) of the coil pump at different submerged ratios
and different rotational speeds. It is clear from this figure that, for certain submerged
ratio, Sr , as the rotational speed increases the flow rate increases before it starts to fall
down to zero as the static head increases reaching a maximum (see Fig. 4). The results
presented in Figure 6 are supporting the results shown in Figures 4 and 5.

1.2. Effect of Submerged Ratio, (Sr), in the Range from 85% to 100%

To obtain a clear investigations for the pump performance in the range of submerged
ratio Sr, from 85% to 100%. It is clearly configured that, in the case of Sr = 100%, the
 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 661

pump flow rate and static head are zero due to the absence of air which causes the
pumping action. Consequently experiments were carried out to study the pump
behavior due to increasing the submerged ratio, step by step, from 85% to 100% in the
same range of the rotational speeds.

400
one layer dp = 3/4 in n = 29.5 coils Dd = 8 in H = 3m 400
one layer dp = 3/4 in n = 29.5 coils Dd = 8 in H=3m
360
360 N1=5.2 rpm
Sr=15%
320 Sr=25%
N2=11.6 rpm

320 N3=17.8 rpm

Sr=35% N4=23.9 rpm
280 Sr=50% N5=29.8 rpm

Sr=65%
280 N6=36.7 rpm

240 Sr=75%
N7=42.5 rpm
Q (lit./hr.)

N8=48.6 rpm
Sr=85% 240 N9=53.7 rpm

Q (lit./hr.)
200 Sr=100% N10=59.6 rpm

200
160
160
120

80 120

40 80

0 40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
0
N (rpm)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
submerged ratio, Sr (%)

Fig. 2 Variation of the pump flow rate with Fig. 3 Variation of the flow rate with
rotational speed at different submerged submerged ratio (from 15% to 100%)
ratios (from 15% to 100%) for different rotational speeds

8
9 one layer dp = 3/4 in n = 29.5 coils Dd = 8 in
one layer dp = 3/4 in n = 29.5 coils Dd = 8 in
7
8

7 6

6
5
Hst.max. (m)
Hst.max. (m)

5
N1=5.2 rpm
4
N2=11.6 rpm
4
N3=17.8 rpm
Sr = 15%
3 N4=23.9 rpm
3 Sr = 25%
N5=29.8 rpm
Sr = 35%
N6=36.7 rpm
2 Sr = 50% 2
Sr = 65% N7=42.5 rpm
Sr = 75% N8=48.6 rpm
1
Sr = 85% 1 N9=53.7 rpm
Sr = 100% N10=59.6 rpm
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0
N (rpm) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
submerged ratio, Sr (%)

Fig. 4 Variation of max. static head at steady state Fig. 5 Variation of the max. static head with
conditions with rotational speed submerged ratio for each
at different submerged ratios rotational speed
(from 15% to 100%)
662 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 663

Figure 7 represents the variation of the flow rate with the rotational speeds at different
values of submerged ratio, Sr, from 85% to 100%. It can be seen that, for certain value
of rotational speed, N, as submerged ratio increases the water flow rate increases for
all the submerged ratio, Sr, in the range from 85% to 94.25%. When the submerged
ratio increases above 94.25% the flow rate continues to increase to a maximum value
for speeds lower than 59.6 rpm, the maximum operating speed presented, before the
flow rate decreases to zero. As submerged ratio, Sr, increases in range from 96.9 % to
100% the maximum speed at which the maximum flow rate occurs decreases as the
submerged ratio increases. Finally the flow rate reaches zero value for all speeds at
Sr s= 100% due to the absence of air with water inside the coil tube pump.

From this figure it can be concluded that, increasing the submerged ratios to value
close to 100 % increases or decreases the pump flow rate depends on the rotational
speed of the pump. Increasing the pump speed increases the flow rate until it reaches
its maximum at certain rotational speed and then decreases to zero value due to
decreasing of air entering the pump coil during high rotational speeds and higher
submerged ratios. In the present study this trend is not obtained for values of
submerged ratios less than 85%, see Figures 2 and 3, because of the limitations of
rotational speed to 60 rpm. Meanwhile it is expected to obtain the same trend, shown
in Figure 7, at higher values of rotational speeds for all submerged ratios. The reason
that the rotational speed, N, is limited to 60 rpm. in the present study is the
consideration of practical operation of coil tube pump. This type of pump mainly
derived by non-conventional drivers, such as water stream which add a limitation to
the pump rotating speed.

The effect of varying the rotational speed, N, on the pump head, H, at different values
of submerged ratio, Sr, in the range from 85% to 100% is shown in Figure 8. For
certain submerged ratio, as the speed, N, increases the static head, nearly linearly,
decreases. Also for certain speed, N, as the submerged ratio, Sr,, increases the pump
static head decreases. For Sr = 100 %, the static head becomes zero.

Figure 9 presents an individual (H-Q curves) at different rotational speeds for each
submerged ratio. This figure illustrates with magnified details the effect of varying Sr,
in the range 88.5 % to 98.5 % on the head, H, versus discharge, Q. A quick view to
Figure 9a for Sr = 88.5% and Figure 9g for Sr = 98.5% gives support to the
explanations related to Figures 7 and 8.
 664 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

480 one layer dp = 3/4 in n = 29.5 coils Dd = 8 in

440
H=3m
400
360 Sr = 85%
Sr = 88.5%
320
Sr = 93.75%
Q (lit./hr.)

280 Sr = 94.25%
Sr = 96.875%
240
Sr = 97.5%
200 Sr = 98%
Sr = 98.5%
160
Sr = 100%
120
80
40
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
N (rpm)

Fig. 7 Variation of the flow rate with submerged ratio (from 85% to 100%)
at different rotational speeds

6
one layer dp = 3/4 in n = 29.5 coils Dd = 8 in

4
Sr = 85%
Hst.max. (m)

Sr = 88.5%
Sr = 93.75%
3 Sr = 94.25%
Sr = 96.875%
Sr = 97.5%
2 Sr = 98%
Sr = 98.5%
Sr = 100%

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
N (rpm)

Fig. 8 Variation of the max. static head with submerged ratio (from 85% to 100%)
at different rotational speeds
Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 665

Fig. 9 Performance (H-Q) curve at different submerged ratios

in the range from 88.5% to 98.5%
666 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

2. Effect of the Number of Coils

The coil pump performance, when changing the number of coils of one layer is
obtained for hose diameter (3/4 inch) wrapped around a drum of outer diameter
(8 inch) at submerged ratio of 50%. Series of experiments were carried out by using a
different number of coils for each experiment at the same other conditions.

Figure 10 represents the effect of number of coils on the pump discharge at different
speeds. The results can be divided into two groups according to the rotational speed.
The first group for pump that rotates at a lower speed less than 30 rpm, the effect of
number of coils is nearly constant. This means that, the lower number of coils gives
nearly the same discharge as the pump has a higher number of coils. This may be due
to lower speed which gives the air chance to be discharged into the pump causes the
pumping action.

On the other hand, for the second group for pump that rotates at a higher speed over 30
rpm, increasing number of coils increases the pump discharge up to its maximum
mainly between 12 and 24 coils then increasing the number of coils decreases the
discharge for any rotational speed. Figure 11 shows the relation between the static
head and the number of coils for different rotational speed. It is shown that, for all
speeds, as the number of coils increases, the pump static head increases. This behavior
is due to higher air pumping action as a result of more coils.

Due to the relation between the pump flow rate and the number of coils is varied
according to the rotational speed; two performance curves (H - Q) are plotted in
Figures 12 and 13, one for a rotational speed less than 30 rpm (23.9 rpm) and the other
for N more than 30 rpm (53.7 rpm). It can notice that, for low speeds less than 30 rpm
the flow rate decreases due to increasing the number of coils and it increases at speeds
higher than 30 rpm. Also, it can notice that the static head is reduced due to the
reduction in the number of coils for each rotational speed for all cases of the different
number of coils.

In order to shed more lights on the previously explained effects of the number of coils
(or tube length) on the coil pump performance, Figure 14 is drawn for Q versus H at
different values of rotational speed N. Comparing Figure 14-a for n = 29.5 coil with
Figure 14-e for n = 5 coil one can arrive to a conclusion that as the number of coils
decreases (consequently the coil tube length) but the discharge, Q, and the head, H,
decreases.
 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 667

7.5
270 11.6 rpm one layer dp = 3/4 in Dd = 8in Sr = 50%
17.8 rpm
7
240 23.9 rpm 6.5 7.2 rpm
29.8 rpm 11.6 rpm
36.7 rpm
6
17.8 rpm
210 42.5 rpm 5.5 23.9 rpm
48.6 rpm 29.8 rpm
180 53.7 rpm 5 36.7 rpm
59.6 rpm 4.5 42.5 rpm

Hst.max. (m)
Q (lit./hr.)

48.6 rpm
150 4 53.7 rpm
3.5 59.6 rpm
120
3
90 2.5
2
60
1.5

30 1
one layer dp = 3/4 in Dd = 8 in Sr = 50% H = 0.5 m 0.5
0 0
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
No. of Coils (coils) No. of Coils (coil)

Fig. 10 Effect of the number of coils on Fig. 11 Effect of the number of coils on
the pump flow rate at different the max. static head at different
rotational speeds rotational speeds

120 250
a) N = 23.9 rpm one layer dp = 3/4 in Dd = 8 in Sr = 50% b) N = 53.7 rpm one layer dp = 3/4 in Dd = 8 in Sr = 50%

29.5 coils 225

100 24.5 coils
19.5 coils 200
11 coils
5 coils 175
80
150
Q (lit./hr.)
Q (lit./hr.)

29.5 coils
24.5 coils
60 125
19.5 coils
11 coils
100 5 coils
40
75

50
20
25

0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5
Hst. (m) Hst. (m)

Fig. 12 Variation of the pump performance Fig. 13 Variation of the pump performance
curve with the number of coils at low curve with the number of coils at high
rotational speed rotational speed
668 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

Fig. 14 Performance (H-Q) curve for single layer pump at different numbers of coils

COMPARATIVE STUDY

A comparative study is performed between the present results and theoretical results
obtained by Mortimer and Annable [6]. They developed a simple coil pump and
formed laboratory investigations. A theory had been also produced which satisfactory
predicted the behavior of the pump. The motion of the water and air plugs was
analyzed through the wrapped pipe from the pump inlet to the outlet and it was found
that the pressure head difference across the pump was developed by means of a
cascading manometer which was equivalent to an unwound helical coil. The rotation
of the pump drum caused the plugs to move along the helical pipe towards the outlet
 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 669

and each water plug was acting as a manometer and sustained a pressure difference
across the plug. The sum of all these pressure differences was equaled the pumping
head resulted in the final delivery pipe. So, an investigation into the behavior of the air
and water plugs in the delivery pipe was carried out by analyzing the position of the
plugs at regular time intervals for one revolution of the pump. Figure 15 shows the
position of the air and water plugs in a vertical delivery pipe at a particular time.

Fig. 15 Plug positions in delivery pipe

Figure 16 shows a comparison between the experimental (present study) and

theoretical (Mortimer and Annable, 1984) flow rate, at various values of the rotational
speed, N, in the range from 5.2 59.6 rpm for one layer pump at submerged ratio, Sr =
15%, the hose diameter, dp = 3/4 inches, number of coils, n = 29.5 coils, cylindrical
drum diameter, Dd = 8 inches.

Good agreement was obtained between the experimental results obtained for pump
discharge and theoretical results obtained by Mortimer and Annable especially for
lower rotational speeds. While for higher values of rotational speed, higher values of
discharge were obtained experimentally not exceeds 20% of the corresponding
theoretical values.

Figure 17 shows a comparative study for the pump maximum static head obtained
experimentally and the theoretical head obtained using Mortimer and Annable
theoretical equations. Good agreement for pump maximum static head was obtained at
670 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

different rotational speeds. It is shown that, the values of the max. Static head,
Hst.max., obtained using the theoretical results are comparable with the values
obtained experimentally especially for high values of the rotational speeds higher than
25 rpm.

140
one layer dp = 3/4 in n = 29.5 coils Dd = 8 in Sr = 15%
130
120 H=3m
110
100
90
80
Q (lit./hr.)

70
60
50
40
30
20
10 Theoretical (Mortimer and Annable (1984))
Experimental (present study)
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
N (rpm)

Fig. 16 Comparison between the theoretical and experimental pump

flow rate at different rotational speeds

8
one layer dp = 3/4 in n = 29.5 coils Dd = 8 in Sr = 15%

5
Hst.max. (m)

1
Theoretical (Mortimer and Annable (1984))
Experimental (present study)
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
N (rpm)

Fig. 17 Comparison between the theoretical and experimental

maximum static head at different rotational speeds
 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 671

CONCLUSIONS

From the presented results and related discussions the following conclusions can be
obtained:
1. Increasing the pump rotational speed increases water flow rate until it
reaches its maximum depending on the working submerged ratio and design
parameters, and then the discharge decreases by increasing the rotational
speed.
2. Increasing the pump rotational speed has a minor effect on the pump
maximum static head.
3. Increasing the submerged ratio increases the pump flow rate until it reaches
its maximum depending on the pump rotational speed, then decreases to
zero when the pump is fully immersed whatever the value of the pump
speed.
4. Submerged ratio has a minor effect on the maximum static head, it is nearly
constant but decreases drastically to zero when the pump submerged ratio
reaches to 100%.
5. Increase number of coils increases the pump head, while pump discharge is
nearly constant.
6. Good agreement is obtained between the present experimental results and
theoretical results obtained by other investigators.

NOMENCLATURE

Symbol
dp Flexible hose diameter inch (mm)
Dd Drum outer diameter inch (mm)
Dc (= dp +Dd) Pitch circle diameter inch (mm)
Hst. Pump Static head m
Hst.max. Maximum Static head m
Lp Flexible hose length m
N Rotational speed rpm
n Number of coils coil
Q Pump Flow rate liter/hour
S Submerged depth mm
Sr (= S/Dc ) Submerged ratio %
Subscripts
P Pipe or hose
D Drum
st. Static
st.max. Maximum static
r Ratio
672 Ninth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC9 2005, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

REFERENCES

[1] Hoffman, R.D., The Internet Glossary of Pumps created by: The Animated
Software Company, http:www.animationsoftware.com/elearning/index.html,
USA, 2002.
[2] Dibwe, "Hydrostatic Coil Pump a possible pump design for 3rd world use", a
report was written by Alex Weir, Sokoine University, Morogoro, Tanzania
2001.
[3] Mortimer, R., "A new water pump: Spiral tube", Department of Civil
Engineering, Loughborough University, England, Journal of Hydraulic
Research, Vol. 22, No. 1, 1984.
[4] Rife Products, water pumps, "Helical intake coil pump: Sling pump", Rife
Hydraulic Engine Mfg. Co. www.riferam.com/pump, Image web publishing,
1987, Sweden.
[5] Kulasinghe, A.W.S., "Barrel pump-rotating coil pump", Water Pumping
Technologies NERD experience, 20th WEDC Conference: Colombo, Sri
Lanka, 1994.
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